Hospital performs specialised valve-preserving surgery

Improving the patient’s heart function from 35% to 45%

India

healthysoch

Bengaluru/New Delhi, October 27, 2026:

Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru, has successfully performed a specialised bicuspid aortic valve repair on a 39-year-old man suffering from heart failure caused by a severely leaking heart valve. Led by Dr. Niranjan Hiremath, Senior Consultant in Cardiovascular and Aortic Surgery, the procedure reconstructed the patient’s natural valve instead of replacing it.

The patient had a congenital condition called a bicuspid aortic valve, in which the valve has two leaflets instead of the usual three. Severe leakage caused blood to flow backwards into the heart, weakening the heart muscle and reducing its pumping function to 35%.

Valve replacement can present long-term challenges for younger patients. Mechanical valves typically require lifelong blood-thinning medication, while tissue valves may deteriorate over time and require further intervention. Valve repair, when clinically feasible, offers an alternative for carefully selected patients.

Following detailed evaluation, Dr. Hiremath and his team reconstructed the patient’s existing valve. After surgery, the valve was functioning well, with no residual leakage. The patient’s left ventricular ejection fraction, which measures the heart’s pumping ability, improved from 35% to 45%.

Continued monitoring will be essential to assess his recovery and the repair’s long-term durability. Commenting on the procedure, Dr. Niranjan Hiremath said, “Preserving a patient’s natural heart valve can be particularly beneficial for younger individuals, potentially helping them avoid some of the long-term challenges associated with valve replacement. The immediate results in this case are encouraging, with no residual leakage and improved heart function. Continued follow-up will be This case highlights how specialised cardiac surgery can provide selected patients with an opportunity to preserve their natural heart valves and potentially reduce the long-term burden associated with valve replacement.